Instrument for the use of dental floss



April 20 1926. 1,582,000

J. GESELL INSTRUMENT FOR THE USE OF DENTAL FLOSS Filed August 7, 1925 @ya F5910 [gli JNVENTOR. Gese,

Y r n TV mns@ a ATI RIJM.

Patented Apr. '20, 1926.

UNiTEu STATES PATENT g oFFicE.

JOSEPH GESELL, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

INSTRUMENT FOR THE USE OIF DENTAL FLOSS. i

Appncationiiiea August 7,1525. seriai im 48,821.

the provision, in a mannerY as hereinafter set forth, of an linstrument for holding a strip. of dental floss tautin such a manner as to enable a user to force the floss between the teethto thoroughly clean. therebetween..

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a` manner as hereinafter set forth',

of anv instrument for holding dental floss.. l

inthe manner above described'and havingv means whereby the flosszmay be so. secured asf to prevent the same from sagging. or giving away while in use.

-Still` anotherl object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a dental floss holdinginstrument having a receptacle in the handle thereof and. means for drawing, the floss from a spool contained in sai-d1 receptacle, over fholding arms to a* point where the lfree end is secured inf such a manner as to prevent the floss from becoming loosened. while in use.

A. still further object of4 the invention, is the provision, in a, manner as hereinafter set forth, of a dentali floss. holding instrument of thev type above described, havinga head so formed that the user may `force the floss betweenithe teeth by `closing thel teeth upon the head, forcing the floss the.l proper dis-l tance between the teeth without cutting the Gum.. y c The final object of the invention isthe provision, in. a manner as hereinafter set forth, of an instrument for holding dental floss, constructed in such a manner as to be free of unnecessary cavities which might come unsanitary, of unique and attractive appearance, strong and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacturevand easily and quickly assembled and put in condition for use;v v

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection withtlie accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict yconformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure. from the salient features of the invention as expressed inthe appended claims.

In the drawing f Figure 1' is a view one having the lower part thereof in longitudinal section. l

ment shown in Figures I and 2.

Figure 4 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the instrument showiiiii Figures l, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modified structure of the instrument. f f L Figure 6` shows the construction of Figure 5 in rear elevation. and having a portion thereof in. section. y j K. Figure 7 isa side elevation of an instru,- ment similar to that shown in Figures 5 and 6 with thezexception thatthe body and headl are formed in one casting with a closure cap or plug` for'the lower, enelv thereof.r

Figure 8l shows in longitudinal section the lower portiony ofVK an instrument which has been cast over a core, showing a particular construction of the interior'thereof. y l

Figures 9, 10 and. 11 show `certain modifications of keys used in connection with this instrument.

Referring now to' the drawing in Vdetaily wherein like numerals ofy reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several "views, the description will first lbe confined to the showing of Figures l, 2., 3 and the instruments shownV in these liguresgbeing intended primarily for yuse by dentistsgor o tlierpersons who might use' the instrument for the cleaning ofl teeth of patients.

form of construction of the device embodying this invention.. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same Figure 3- isa sider elevation'of' the instru? i The instrument comprises an elonOated body 1 having the interior thereof axially recessed as at 2 and the lower` end opened as shown in Figure 2.

The upper portion of the body merges into a solid head 3, the upper portion of which head carries a pair of diverging slightly curved arms 4 which set up a substantially V-shaped structure thereon. The upper ends of these arms have slight forward extensions 5 and are also provided with the transverse apertures (i. As clearly shown in Figure 1 the arms 4 have a slight torsional twist which causes the upper ends 5 to be set at an angle with respect to each other, and causing the faces 7 of the arms to also be at an angle with respect to each other and facing toward one side of the instrument.

In the crotch formed between the lower portion of the arms 4, there is lodged a cutter element S, the upper portion of which is formed to provide a pair of curved cutter arms 9 the upper and lower edges of which arms are sharpened for cutting the floss carried by the instrument, as shown in Figure 4.

The solid head 3 is provided with a pair of transverse apertures 11 into which the legs 12 of a key 13 normally extend. Ln aperture 14 is formed through the side of the body 1 to open into the interior 2 there` Y of, and there is provided for insertion into Cil the interior 2 of the body the combined receptacle closure element 15, in which there is adapted to be placed a spool carrying thereon floss 16. This combined closure receptacle element 15 has a reduced portion 17 of substantial length which enters and extends nearly the entire length of the interior of the body 1. The lower portion of this member is enlarged as at 18 to abut the lower end of the body to limit the inward movement of the saine into the body. 1n order to malte the receptacle closure element 15 fit tightly in the body 1 the interior wall of the chamber 2 and the outer wall of the reduced portion 17 may be slightly tapered so that a binding effect will be obtained when the two parts are put together. rlhis will insure a tight fit between the member 15 and the body without the use of screw thread con- Anections, which construction would be unsanitary and objectionable.

As is clearly shown in the side elevations 3 and 4 the arms 4 are curved at the upper ends thereof causing the head portion 5 to be directed forwardly in the direction toward which the faces 7 of the arms are turned.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a slight modification of the instrument described in f connection wit-h the foregoing figures, theV modification having to do principally with the head of the instrument. In these figures the body portion 19 may be the same as the body portion 1 of the other figure, having an axial chamber 2O formed therein to receive the reduced portion 21 of th-e combined receptacle cap member 22. The upper portion of this body 19 carries thereon a head 23 constricted at its upper portion to provide the neck 24, which yneck merges into one edge of a flat transversely7 extending portion 25 from the sides of which portion 25 the forwardly projecting arms 2G extend. rhe back of the portion 25 is flat as shown, and the purpose for this particular eonstrueti m will be brought out as the description proceeds. Y

The ends of the arms 26 are provided with the apertures 27 and the head 23 is also provided with an aperture 2S in which the leg 29 of the key member 30 extends. rlhe side of the head is slightly recessed as at 31 to allow the inner end of the head of the key 30 to extend t-hereinto to become locked against undesired movement. The body is provided with the aperture 32 which opens from the outer side thereof into the chainber 20 from which the thread or fioss 16 passes.

En connection with this construction, there is shown a hook shaped cutter element 33, which cutter has an elongated portion 34 which is fixed in the body 19 through the wall of the passage 32 in such a manner as to leave the hoo-hed portion of the cutter extending outwardly and downwardly from the opening through which the floss is to bc passed. The inner curved side of this cutter 33 is sharpened so that the floss 16 can bc drawn upwardly thereagainst to be severed.

In preparing the instrument shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 for use, the floss 1G is passed through the opening 14 to the exterior of the head and is given one or two wraps about one of the arms 4, passed through the apertures 6 in the ends of the arms as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the free end is then brought down to the key 13. The legs of the ltey 13 are positioned one on each side of the floss 16 and the key given several turns to draw the fioss tight between the ends of the arms 4 whereupon the legs are inserted into the passages 11 where the key is held against the rotation thus preventing that portion of the floss lying between the ends of the arms 4 from becoming loosened while being used. A is well hnown the dental floss is usually waxed and theV wrapping of the same about one of the arms after bringing the floss from the interior of the instrument, causes a binding of the floss about the arms thus preventing the same from slipping. V

ln the use of the instrument shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the floss after being drawn through the aperture 32 is given one or two wraps about the neck 24 of the instrument and is then passed through the aperture 27 across the endsy of the arms', and downwardly to the key 30 where the free endis wrappedl about the leg 29 ofV the'key and thekey forced intol the aperture 28 until the inner end engages inthe slot 31 formed in the head. The floss is thus tightly held and the key cannot turn to allow the floss to become loosened. y

In Figures 9, l0 and 11 there are shown several modifications of keys, the key shown in Figure 9 having the flat head 35 and an elongated relatively flat leg 36. It will be readily seen that when this leg is inserted into a slot of the same shape that the key cannot turn therein. The same key is shown in end elevation in Figure 10. The key shown in Figure l1 is provided with a flat head 37 and the leg thereof is triangular in shape as indicated at 38 which leg is de signed to be passed into a slot of the same triangular conformation. i

While one type of key has been shown in connection with the instrument disclosed in Figures l to l and another type shown in theI Figures 5 to 7, it is to be understood that these types of keysare not restricted to use with these particular types of' instru-k ments but any type of key here shown and described may be used with any of the in struments, as desired.

The body portion 39 of the instrument shown in Figure 7 is of slightly different construction from that shown in Figures 5 and 6 as in this construction the body is of one piece and the open lower end is closed by a cap L,LO having the inner wall inclined as indicated at il and there is forced into this cap one end oic a cork 4t2 which is designed to be inserted into the open end of the body to close the same.

A further body construction is shown-in 'Figure 8. In this construction the body 4? is axially recessed but the upper end thereof has a portion oi the wall curved as at lili causing the inner end to taper toward the opening 32 of the body. .These bodies may be cast over a core and in this event the core would be correspondingly Ishaped at the inner end and could be easily removed from the bedy, and further this conformation oit the inner end of the chamber formed in the body makes the threading of the floss 16 through the apertures 32 a comparatively simple process for by inserting' the flossinto the recess the inner end of the floss will be oi screws and other connections requiringl uneven surfaces, will be extremely easy and sanitary appearance and besides porcelain may be easily sterilized without becoming damaged. y

Having thus described my `invention what I claim is:

1. A dental floss holding instrument of the character set forth, comprising a hollow` handle body designed to receive a spool of dentaliioss, said body having an aperture therethrough torleading one end. of said floss to the exterior thereof, a relatively flat body extending transversely of one end of` said handle in edge opposed relation thereto, an arm member extending at right angles to the surface of and from each side of said portion, means for securing a strip of said floss across between said arms, and non-revoluble removable means for securing and holding the free end of said floss.

2. A dental Aliess holding instrument of the character set forth comprising, a hollow handle body designed to receive a spool of iioss, said handle having an aperture therethrough for leading said floss to the exterior thereof, means to provide a pairof spaced arms between the ends of which said floss is adapted to be held, and means carried by the instrument beneath said arms for holding the free end of said floss to maintain the same taut between said arms, said handle body having the inner ond. of the interior thereofconstricted and directed toward the aperture through Vthe wall to expedite the threading of the floss threthrough.

3. A. dental floss holding instrument of the character set forth comprising, a handle body having an axially extending chamber formed therein from one end, and Jfurther having an aperture formed through the wall thereof for thepassage of said floss to the exterior of lthe body, a cap for the open end of said body having a reduced extension ci? slightly less length than Said chamber and adapted to extend thereiiito and further having a chamber formed therein for the reception of a spool of floss, means to provide a pair ot arms upon said body, provided with means for holding said floss stretched between the. ends thereof, and means for holding the free endof said floss securely to maintain the same taut between sardarms,

v said handle body having` the inner end of the interior thereof constricted and directed toward the aperture through the wall to expedite the threading of the floss there- Y through.

li. A dental `floss holding instrument of the character set forth, comprising av handle body having an axially extending chamber forme-d therein from one ond and further having` an aperture formed throuffh the Wall thereof for the passage of said ioss, a cap for the open side of said body, a plug carried 5 by said cap and adapt-ed to frictionally engage in the open end 0f the body, ineans to provide a, pair of arms upon the other end of the body to support a length of floss in position for use, and a non-revoluble removable key extended into the side of the body to hold the free end of said oss.

In testimony whereof, I afiX lny signature hereto,

JOSEPH GESELL. 

